Expansion splice

ABSTRACT

A splice joint is used to fasten together two pieces of runner structure for a suspended ceiling. The splice is constructed to permit expansion of the runner structures should they be exposed to heat. The splice joint and runner structures are held together by a wire clip which, during expansion of the runner structures, will override a stop structure and move into a slot region to permit expansion of the runner structure.

[ 51 Feb. 8, 1972 United States Patent Nute, Jr. et al.

[54] EXPANSION SPLICE 3,152,670 10/1964 Selkregg 3,189,138 6/1965 Znamirowski 3,284,977 11/l966 Lickliter [72] Inventors: Ernest B. Nute, Jr., Mountville; James C.

Ollinger, Lancaster, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa.

3,457,688 7/1969 Znamirowski ................287/189.36 A

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,448,983 1966 France.......................,......287/189.35

221 Filed: Dec.19,l969

21] Appl.No.: 886,532

Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Attomey-Clifi'ord B. Price [57] ABSTRACT A splice joint is used to fasten together two pieces of runner structure for a suspended ceiling. The splice is constructed to permit expansion of the runner stnictures should they be exposed to heat. The splice joint and runner structures are held together by a wire clip which, during expansion of the runner structures, will override a stop structure and move into a slot region to permit expansion of the runner structure.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures O'Neil ......287/I89.35 I-Iodapp 5 ...287/l89.36A, 52/573, 52/726 5/18, E041: 5/52 .52/637, 726, 573, DIG. 5; 287/189.35, 189.36 A, 189.36

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Keelor Griffith [52] [51] Int.CI.............. [58] FieldoiSearch......................

mcmenrza 8 I972 3.640.557

I NVENTOR ERNEST s. NUTE, JR.

JAMES C. OLLINGER ATTORNEY EXPANSION SPLICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a new and useful expansion splice for supporting grid systems and, more particularly, for a splice structure which will permit a grid system to expand in a fire without the collapse of the grid system.

2. Description of the Prior Art A number of structures have been utilized for permitting expansion of a supporting grid system. When subjected to extreme heat, such as during a tire, the grid members seek to expand and will buckle is expansion cannot otherwise be accommodated. Buckling of the grid system is undesirable because it tends to raise the ceiling panels and permit them to fall, or otherwise open the structure, thereby diminishing or destroying the fire-retardant qualities of the ceiling by permitting heat to escape through the buckled area. U.S. Pat. No. 3,284,977 is one example of an expansion splice wherein a runner structure is permitted to expand due to the construction of the splice. U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,367 discloses another technique for accomplishing the same result. Here the grid is provided with a special structure and a splice cooperates therewith to permit expansion of the grid structure. In both above cases, the splice is provided with some type of sliding coaction with the grid member so that there may be relative movement therebetween.

The invention herein is designed to be used with a commercially available grid structure and is meant to provide the simplest form of joint structure for joining two grid members together. In addition, the structure is meant to provide a capability of expansion in the grid system by the use of the simplest and most inexpensive type of splice joint structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention herein is directed to a splice joint which is placed between two main runners and is utilized to fasten together the two main runners. Both the splice joint member and the main runners have holes which readily align and through which a wire clip is passed to join the two structures. The splice member is provided with an elongated opening adjacent its hole structure. If the main runner is heated and tends to expand, it forces the wire clip from the hole structure of the splice, past stop tabs between the hole structure and the elongated opening, into the elongated opening. The main runner is now free to push the wire clip along the slot of the splice. The wire will still tend to hold the splice and main runner together as a unitary structure, but the presence of the elongated slot adjacent the hole structure has permitted expansion of the main runner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exposed view of the invention herein;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the joint structure of FIG. 1 with the wire clip in the hole structures; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the exception that expansion has occurred and the wire clip has moved into the elongated opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A main support runner 2 is shown in FIG. 1. This runner is conventional in the art and is being sold by a number of ceiling systems manufacturers. The flanges 4 on either side of the main channel area are used to support ceiling panels. The main channel area 6 is the region into which the splice joint assembly 8 is placed. Two main runner assemblies are spaced apart a short distance, and the splice assembly 8 is used to join together the main runner assemblies.

The main runner assembly has on each side a hole structure 10 and a slot structure 12. The splice joint assembly 8 has on each side a hole structure 14 which is positioned in alignment with a main runner hole structure 10. A tab 15 on each side of the splice oint is positioned in the slot 12. A wire clip 16 is used to pass through the holes 10 and 14 on the main runner and splice assembly. Consequently, the splice assembly is held relative to the main runner assembly by the wire clip passing through the aligned hole structures 10 and 14 in the two assemblies and by the tabs 15 being placed in the slots 12 of the main runner assembly. It will be seen that this structure prevents any relative movement of the splice assembly relative to the main runner, and the combination of the holes and wire clip with the tabs 15 and slots 12 prevents any pivot action of the splice assembly and main runner around the ends of the wire clip.

With the splice assembly between two main runner assemblies, the main runner assemblies, as above-described, are incapable of movement longitudinally relative to the splice assembly. While it is true that the tabs 15 may move in the slots 12, the two hole structures 10 and 14 with the wire clip 16 therebetween prevent relative movement of the main runner assemblies to the splice assembly. However, by the provision of a slot assembly 18 adjacent each hole structure 14 of the splice assembly, there can be provided an ability for the main runner assembly to move relative to the splice assembly. The elongated hole structure slot 18 is placed adjacent the hole structure 14. The hole and slot structures actually merge and an open area is provided between the hole and the slot. However, little projections 20 exist between the hole 14 and slot 18 so that the end of the wire clip 16 is still retained within the hole 14 and will not readily slide into the slot 18. However, should a fire cause the expansion of a main runner assembly, forces will be created within the main runner assembly tending to force the ends of the wire clip past the projections 20 so that the ends of the wire clip may move from the hole 14 into the slot 18. At a point all before the main runner assembly would tend to buckle as it is trying to expand, the wire clip ends are forced past the projections 20 so that an end of the wire clip 16 may move from the hole structure 14 into the slot 18. As had been previously indicated, the tabs 15 will slide in the slots 12. Consequently, there is provided a structure which will allow the main runner to expand due to high temperatures from a fire.

What is claimed is:

1. An expansion splice for supporting grid systems and the like comprising a pair of grid runner members aligned with their longitudinal axes passing along the same axis and their ends spaced apart a short distance, a splice member placed in the space between the two grid runner members and overlapping the ends of the grid members a short distance, a hole structure in both a grid member and the splice member being in alignment an elongated opening placed adjacent one of the hole structures of one of the above members, said opening being closely adjacent and partly merged with the hole structure, a means passing through the hole structures of both the splice member and the grid member to hold the two members from relative movement, and means positioned between the hole structure and the elongated opening at the merger thereof to retain the holding means passing through the hole structure and contain it within the hole structure, into the elongated opening and thereby permit relative movement between the grid member and splice member.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein there are two sets of hole structures on both the splice member and the grid member and a wire clip is used to pass through the aligned hole structures in the grid member and the splice member to function as the means retaining the two members together.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein further means are provided to hold the grid member and splice member together, said further means being a tab on one member and a coacting slot on the other member.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. a g557 Dated February 8, 1972 Ernest B. Nate, Jr. et a1 Inventor(s) i It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column 1, line 13, the word "is" should read --if--; line 5h, the word "exposed" should read --exploded--. Columni, line 25, the w'ord --or-- should be inserted after the word "struoture" and before the word "sl'ot"; line 35, the word "all" should read --well--; line 51, insert a after the word "alignment" and before the word "an"; line 59," after "structure and before -"into"- insert the following: --the last-mentioned means forming a gap at said merger of slightly less width than the width of the holding means in the hole structure, whereby a nloderate force along the longitudinal axis of a grid runner causes said holdin'g means to traverse said gap and move- Signed and sealed this 27th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. I ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. An expansion splice for supporting grid systems and the like comprising a pair of grid runner members aligned with their longitudinal axes passing along the same axis and their ends spaced apart a short distance, a splice member placed in the space between the two grid runner members and overlapping the ends of the grid members a short distance, a hole structure in both a grid member and the splice member being in alignment, an elongated opening placed adjacent one of the hole structures of one of the above members, said opening being closely adjacent and partly merged with the hole structure, a means passing through the hole structures of both the splice member and the grid member to hold the two members from relative movement, and means positioned between the hole structure and the elongated opening at the merger thereof to retain the holding means passing through the hole structure and contain it within the hole structure, into the elongated opening and thereby permit relative movement between the grid member and splice member.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein there are two sets of hole structures on both the splice member and the grid member and a wire clip is used to pass through the aligned hole structures in the grid member and the splice member to function as the means retaining the two members together.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein further means are provided to hold the grid member and splice member together, said further means being a tab on one member and a coacting slot on the other member. 